NFL Conference Championships

And now there are four.

First to recap, we went 2-2 in our picks last week. Who would have figured San Diego could lose LaDainian Tomlinson and Philip Rivers and still beat Indianapolis, while I admittedly over-estimated the readiness of Seattle in their game against Green Bay. On the upside, all of the so-called experts told us how Dallas was going to win handily over the Giants. ALL of us in New York knew better and had the last laugh. And while it would have been nice to see Jacksonville upset New England, that pick was a no-brainer.

So I come into conference championship weekend 5-3 in post-season picks knowing the worst I can wind up after today is 5-5. But that’s not going to happen.

The early game has San Diego again in an up hill battle against a formidable adversary. As of this morning we are told it will be a game time decision whether Rivers will start at quarterback after injuring his knee last week. Tomlinson is probable while tight end Antonio Gates is doubtful, still dealing with a sprained big toe sustained two weeks ago. The Charger defense has had past success disrupting the passing of Patriots QB Tom Brady and will need to do that again in order to win. But they still have to figure out how to score.

While everybody is talking about Brett Favre and whether he’ll get one last chance to win a Super Bowl, there are two veterans in New York, Michael Strahan and Amani Toomer, who are still looking for their first ring (Favre has one as a member of the 1996 team that beat New England). Yeah, it’s going to be cold, harkening back to “the frozen tundra of Lanbeau Field” and the 1967 NFL Championship game, but this is a different year and a different era.

To win, the Giants defense will need to shut down the Packer rushing game to force Favre into throwing. Then their complex blitzing scheme need to put the kind of pressure on him that worked so well against a younger, more mobile Tony Romo last week. Putting the 38 year old on the turf a few times wouldn’t hurt either. On offense, New York needs to establish their running game both to wear down the Packer defense and open up passing opportunities. Failing to do that, it will be a long, cold evening.

My picks are in bold.

Sunday, January 20, 2008

AFC

San Diego at New England (3:00 PM ET CBS)

NFC

New York at Green Bay (6:30 PM ET FOX)

Sunday, February 3, 2008

SUPER BOWL XLII
Phoenix, AZ

AFC Champion vs NFC Champion (6:00 PM ET FOX)

NFL News: Mike Carey will be the first Black referee in Super Bowl history